
The Star Wars prequels aren’t everyone’s favorite, but the best film from that period is currently available to watch for free on YouTube. While many fans still prefer George Lucas’ original Star Wars trilogy, the prequels have been gaining a new appreciation in recent years.
The new Star Wars films and shows are bringing back characters and ideas from the earlier prequel movies (Episodes I, II, and III) to appeal to longtime fans. For example, the story of The Mandalorian and Grogu will feature Rotta the Hutt, Jabba the Hutt’s son, who originally appeared in the prequel film Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
This shows how the earlier Star Wars films are now being included in the current franchise, even though they were very divisive when they first came out. Despite opinions shifting since the early 2000s, those original controversies still often surround those films today.
I’m so excited to share that what many fans, including me, consider the best Star Wars movie from the prequels is now available to watch for free on YouTube! It’s awesome news and I’m definitely going to be rewatching it.
‘The Beginning: Making Star Wars: Episode I’ Offers A Fascinating Look Into George Lucas’ Mind
Aurore Marechal/Abaca Press/INSTARimages
Many fans agree that the best Star Wars prequel isn’t one of the films themselves – The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, or Revenge of the Sith – but a documentary about the making of The Phantom Menace. Called The Beginning: Making Star Wars: Episode I, this hour-long film provides a uniquely detailed and interesting look at George Lucas’s creative process during the prequel trilogy.
The prequel trilogy sparked a lot of debate because it was a significant departure from the original Star Wars films. This was largely due to George Lucas’s heavy use of new digital effects, a topic the documentary explores in detail. The film offers a rare look into Lucas’s creative vision and how it impacted every aspect of the production.
The Phantom Menace Documentary Is Better Than The Movie Itself

The documentary about Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace is surprisingly better than the film itself. Episode I, along with Episode II, is generally considered one of the weaker movies in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. While the first two prequels have a few good moments, only Episode III is widely praised as a truly excellent film.
Many fans and critics have disliked The Phantom Menace because of its heavy use of computer-generated imagery, the controversial character Jar Jar Binks, and performances that felt unnatural. The storyline, focused on complicated trade negotiations, was also seen as slow and uninteresting for a Star Wars film. However, the movie does have some strong points, including its action scenes, music, and certain visual effects.
However, the documentary about The Phantom Menace is actually very engaging. It’s fascinating to see how all the special effects and scenes were created, particularly for anyone interested in how movies are made. This makes the hour-long documentary feel quick and enjoyable, which is quite different from watching The Phantom Menace itself, which can often feel slow and drawn-out.
Watching The Making Of Episode I Makes You Appreciate The Prequels More

Okay, so The Phantom Menace isn’t perfect, we all know that. But honestly, learning about how they made it has totally changed how I see the prequels. It’s incredible to see just how much work George Lucas and everyone put into the film, and how much he pushed the boundaries of what was possible with special effects back then. It really makes you appreciate it on a different level.
Looking back, the prequel trilogy seems more impressive, particularly Episode I. You can really appreciate the effort that went into making the film, and while it might not make people love the movie itself, it does foster a greater respect for George Lucas and everyone who worked on it.
When this film first came out, a lot of people accused George Lucas of taking the easy way out, relying too much on digital effects. But after seeing how much effort actually went into those effects – and realizing how much traditional filmmaking still mattered – that criticism just doesn’t hold up. It’s clear now he wasn’t being lazy at all; it was a huge amount of work, both digital and practical!
Even if you’re not a fan of the Star Wars prequels, this documentary might help you see them in a new light, particularly The Phantom Menace.
Hollywood Has Killed The Behind-The-Scenes Documentary

This hour-long documentary not only gives fans a new look at The Phantom Menace, but also points out a bigger issue: Hollywood doesn’t make behind-the-scenes documentaries like it used to. These types of films were much more frequent, particularly in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Peter Jackson’s extended editions of The Lord of the Rings films are well-known for their incredible bonus content. Each edition includes nine hours of footage showing how the movies were made, adding up to almost 30 hours of behind-the-scenes documentaries. Although the documentary for The Phantom Menace wasn’t as long, it still offers a detailed look at the filmmaking process.
As a real cinema lover, I’ve noticed a worrying trend: really great documentaries seem harder and harder to find these days. I think a big part of the problem is streaming. Services like Netflix and Prime Video mostly focus on their own shows and movies, and don’t really prioritize releasing documentaries. Plus, with everyone streaming, fewer people are buying DVDs and Blu-rays, which used to be a reliable way to discover these films.
In the past, you mostly found behind-the-scenes movie documentaries on DVDs and Blu-rays. Now that fewer people are buying physical copies, Hollywood is making fewer of these documentaries. It’s disappointing, which is why it’s great that one of the best movies from the Star Wars prequels is currently available to watch online for free – don’t miss it!
Read More
- Clash Royale Best Boss Bandit Champion decks
- Vampire’s Fall 2 redeem codes and how to use them (June 2025)
- Mobile Legends January 2026 Leaks: Upcoming new skins, heroes, events and more
- World Eternal Online promo codes and how to use them (September 2025)
- How to find the Roaming Oak Tree in Heartopia
- Clash Royale Season 79 “Fire and Ice” January 2026 Update and Balance Changes
- Best Arena 9 Decks in Clast Royale
- Clash Royale Furnace Evolution best decks guide
- Best Hero Card Decks in Clash Royale
- FC Mobile 26: EA opens voting for its official Team of the Year (TOTY)
2026-01-10 05:29